AC Milan fans hoping to see Mario Balotelli hit top form for the first city derby of the season were kept in check Friday by Rossoneri coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Balotelli, who has returned to the San Siro on a season-long loan deal, hit the opener, provided an assist and won a penalty on Thursday as Milan beat fourth division side Modena 3-2 in a friendly during the break for international fixtures.

Balotelli's goal from distance showed the striker, whose departure from Liverpool was widely applauded by Reds aficionados, has not lost his nose for goal.

But he has a long way to go until lasting a full 90 minutes, said Mihajlovic, whose revamped side are away to Inter Milan next week.

"He's not played for a while and he still has to improve," Mihajlovic said La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He's training well and his physical tests are satisfactory, but he's three kilogrammes overweight: he's on a diet and when he's ready he will play."

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani, meanwhile, rang a more positive tone when asked about Balotelli's fitness and admitted the striker's goal had got him "excited".

"His fitness is improving, physically he's in a good place and he can do what he wants when he has the ball. Let's hope his goal augurs well for the rest of the season," said Galliani.

"When I see goals like that I get excited."

Milan, who like Inter failed to qualify for Europe this season, have one defeat and one win from their opening two games of the season.